THREE gripping minutes of injury time saw Nuneaton take what looked to be a winning lead only for Stevenage to battle back and notch a deserved equaliser with virtually the last touch of the game in deepest Hertfordshire last night.

After Jamie Williams gave Steve Burr's men the lead for a second time more than a minute into time added on, the home side's central defender Jason Goodliffe completed a brace of headers to restore parity seconds before the final whistle.

And while the visitors' 100-plus travelling contingent left Broadhall Way with mixed feelings having seen their men take a point but despondent it wasn't three, many of the home faithful missed the final twist and were well on their way home when their England non-league international squared the issue.

Earlier in the half, Steve Whitehall's second goal for the club earned Nuneaton the advantage only for Goodliffe to level matters in the 75th minute and set the scene for a thrilling climax.

Certainly there was little to excite before the break, both attacks being well restrained although Jason Peake brought out a fine diving save from Paul Wilkerson with a low scything 25-yarder.

Stevenage's sole effort was a 40-yard lob from John Morgan that drifted just over but it was four minutes after the break the action unfolded as Whitehall gave the Manor Park side the lead.

Peake, looking something more like his normal self in central midfield, won possession inside his own half and sprinted forward before feeding McGregor and his far post cross fell invitingly for Whitehall to thump past the advancing Wilkerson from seven yards.

However, from Adrian Clarke's in-swinging corner the ball deflected to Goodliffe six yards out and his diving header flew past a mass of bodies into the net. Stevenage were scenting better things and it was only the base of the post which denied Morgan's angled drive finding the target minutes later

Michael Love then diverted a goal-bound effort from Martin Williams into the path of Hay who was thwarted by man-of-the-match Terry Angus who produced a breath-taking challenge to keep the scoreline level but not for long.

With 91 minutes on the watch, Andy Thackeray launched a long cross to the far post where Wilkerson fumbled into the path of Jamie Williams whose stylish cross-shot flew across the area and found the rigging just inside the upright.

Nuneaton looked home and hosed, especially as Northampton referee Dean Whitestone had already signalled three minutes added time to his fourth official. But with 15 seconds remaining Nuneaton conceded a corner.

And from Clarke's set-piece MacKenzie seemed to be obstructed as he clawed the ball straight to Paul Sturgess who headed it back into the danger zone for Goodliffe to plant a splendid eight-yard header right into the angle of bar and post.